England star Jos Buttler reveals his ambition of playing in the IPL

England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler is hoping to be picked up by a team at this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The hard-hitting batsman lost his place in England's Test team after an underwhelming tour of the United Arab Emirates in 2015, but he is hoping to develop his white-ball skills in the world's most high-profile T20 competition.

Buttler, 25, has made himself available for the IPL auction after being given the full blessing of the ECB to put his name forward. The Lancashire star is not worried that his participation in the IPL will harm his chances of usurping Jonny Bairstow in the Test side.

"Obviously, Jonny has done fantastically well in the Test series, so he is going to be in that side for a while," Buttler said, according to ESPNcricinfo. "[ECB director] Andrew Strauss is keen to get guys playing in these overseas tournaments, [and] for me it seems the right decision at this time.

"As an English player, it is always quite complicated fitting it in. But this was a great window for me to try it out and with the players around you, you'd think you can learn not just about Twenty20 but all cricket."

Buttler is understood to be a significant target for Kolkata Knight Riders, but he is not taking anything for granted. "You're a piece of meat in an auction, aren't you?" he said. "There are no guarantees of getting a franchise, but it's a competition I would love to be part of."

Despite this, Buttler has revealed he still harbours ambitions of regaining his place in the England Test side. "There is an increased emphasis on one-day cricket," Buttler said. "However, I think an English player still feels Test cricket is the pinnacle and I don't feel ready to throw my towel in on red-ball cricket yet.

"Having experienced an Ashes series, although personally I didn't do very well, the emotions and feelings of winning Test matches isn't rivalled by Twenty20 or one-dayers just yet. If we won the World Cup, I am sure it would be completely different."